If you are planning to travel, there are a lot of things to do before you head out the door. You need to pack your luggage and either gas up the car or get ready for a flight. Then, on top of all of that, you’ve got to find a suitable hotel reservation. If you want some great advice, read the following article.
Room service can make your stay more enjoyable. It may cost more, but it’s convenient when you don’t feel like leaving.
Prior to making reservations, research hotels on sites like TripAdvisor. These will give you some information from people that have stayed at that certain hotel. These reviews can aid you in your decision about whether to book the hotel.
If you take a lot of electronic gadgets with you on a trip, lock them up in the safe when away from the room. You can use it to store your tablet and other expensive items to keep them secure.
Check out online travel websites in order to discover the best deals on hotels. Examples include Orbitz and Expedia. If you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program, don’t forget to add that information as you check rates. Also, you might be able to get some discounts offered by organizations that you might be a part of like AAA or AARP.
Consider your organizational memberships. Some organizations offer discounts on hotels to their members. Discounts of 10% or more are often available, and people sometimes forget that they are eligible to claim them. This is especially useful if you plan to book a longer stay. That can give you close to a completely free night when it adds up.
To get a meal later at night order yourself some room service. While this could cost you a little more, it will be worth it because you can stay in your room and take care of the cravings you’re having.
When making a hotel selection, you should consider many things. Of course price is a big deal, but a hotel close to where you are head is a big consideration. You may want free WiFi access, a convenient location, free long distance or a nice pool or gym. You want to secure a room at a hotel that provides the things you desire.
Put your electronics into the room’s safe. Your iPad, watch, and other smaller, expensive items can be placed into the safe, then you can rest assured at their safety as you head out for a fun-filled day.
Once you get to your hotel, do not unpack until you check the room. Is the room clean and free from mildew or mold? Is everything in the bathroom working as it should? Count how many linens and towels you were given and make sure there are enough for everyone traveling with you. If there are any obvious problems, report them to the front desk immediately so that they can be taken care of or you can be moved to a different room.
Use hotel search tools online. You can use such websites to discover great deals with ease and speed. They will also let you know what people pay on average when they go to that hotel. This lets you figure out if the deal you’re getting is a good one. On top of that, they can help you determine the cheapest destinations.
Verify the check-in time at the hotel. People sometimes forget when they will be let into their rooms, showing up early only to learn that their room isn’t ready yet. If you might arrive prior to check-in time, try calling the hotel and seeing if the room is available.
Know the check-in times. Some people fail to check when they will be able to access their rooms. They arrive at the hotel but find that their room isn’t ready yet. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
Plan your trip as far in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Quite a few locations will give discounts if you choose to book a room a month or more in advance. You may save 50 percent or more.
If you want to find the absolute rock bottom hotel prices, plan your trips weeks or months ahead of time. A lot of places will give you a discount if you’re going to book about a month or so in advance. You might only pay half price for premium hotels.
Check your AAA membership for a hotel discount. Many people are surprised to see hotel discounts included with their auto club membership. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.
If you’re thinking of taking your pet to a hotel with you, there are some things you need to do first. Ascertain that your hotel is really pet friendly. You should bring some plastic bags and cleaning supplies to keep the room clean behind your pet. If you can arrange a corner room, there will be less likelihood of your pet disturbing other guests.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. This type of program provides discounts and benefits for frequent visitors. Some of the useful things that you can earn are extra upgrades, free nights, and late check-outs.
To keep your running regimen up while you are traveling, pack your GPS watch and plenty of running clothes. Go for a run when you wake up in the morning. Even if your route takes you through the street of a city, at least you will get a glimpse of the area you are visiting.
If you’re traveling with kids, be sure that you check on the pools to ensure they’re open and in service. There aren’t many things that are as frustrating as going to your hotel with kids that really want to swim only to see that it has been closed.
Do you use the same hotels on a regular basis? If so, check out their membership programs for frequent guests. Just like frequent flyer mile programs, these hotel programs offer you points for your stay. In time you may even get to stay there for free!
Determine whether or not the hotel you are considering allows smoking or not. If you are a nonsmoker, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. You may be able to get a non smoking rooms still, but you can get smoke in the air which will stick to you. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms because that is all that is available, and then they smoke in them anyway. Choose a non-smoking hotel to avoid the stench.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. Many hotels offer environmentally friendly standards today. Green certification is something some of the newly built hotels are quite proud of promoting. Some of the older hotels do implement green practices to be sure they are eco-friendly. Talk to your travel agent if you prefer to stay at this type of hotel.
Always know the hotel smoking policy wherever you stay if you personally smoke. Many hotels set aside certain rooms or wings for smoking guests. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, they may charge you a fine.
Timing matters when booking a hotel room. Rooms prices are based on their availability. Try booking your hotel room within 24 hours of your stay. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. Empty rooms don’t earn a hotel any money, so they are willing to slash the price.
Look into the hotel policy with regard to pets. You may wish to stay away from hotels that permit pets if you have allergies or you fear certain animals. These hotels may also have an odor due to the smells sinking in the floor and linens. Extra fees are sometimes imposed by hotels for guests who bring pets, but sometimes the fee is not too high. Depending on what hotel you choose, the fee charged might or might not cover any extra cleaning required.
If you wish to see if a hotel room has bed bugs, check out the bathroom. Bedbugs are rarely seen in this room. Therefore, you can put your luggage here while you look over the remainder of the room. Kids and pets can stay there as well.
It you’re able to, try not to check out until it’s time for you to depart. If you do, then you could be charged an extra departure fee for early checkout. Upon reserving a hotel room, you tie up that room in the hotel. This means that your early departure results in the hotel losing money. Make sure you understand that you might be charged for an early departure.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. A lot of places have specific rooms just for people who smoke. You should try your best to book one of these if they are available. Certain hotels will charge you a steep fee if you get caught smoking in a room that is non-smoking. Be sure to follow the rules of the hotel.
Make sure you know your rights if any hotel ever tries to “walk” you. There may be times when a hotel overbooks, leaving with no room. The hotel will attempt to foist you off on another hotel. Try not to let this happen to you, but if it is unavoidable, be sure that that you are getting a room that is at least as good as the one that you paid for.
You should know that you generally aren’t going to be able to do an early check-in at a hotel. Be sure to plan your arrival with that in mind, or you may be sitting in the lobby area for some time. The room needs to be cleaned after the last guest leaves. You can see if your room is ready should you arrive early. However, do not count on it.
Don’t get that bottled water and open it! After traveling and checking in, you might be feeling tired and/or thirsty. That’s what the hotel owners had in mind when they packed the min-fridge with delicious, yet expensive, refreshments. Hotels take advantage of their guests by charging ridiculous pricess for bottled water. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. Even better, bring along a few of your own bottles.
When reserving your room, be sure to ask for a roll-away bed or crib if you will be in need of these extra sleeping accommodations. Not all hotels supply these items, and those that do have limited quantities. Sometimes, they cost extra, too. You should discuss this with the hotel agent prior to booking so that you do not have an unexpected charge to your bill.
Resist the urge to abscond with the hotel linens. As soft and luxurious as they are, the housekeepers will likely notice that things are missing, and you might get a bill from the hotel for them. It is sometimes possible to buy linens or pillows from the hotel if you want them so badly.
One of the most important things during your vacation is your hotel room. The right hotel makes your trip more pleasurable. The next time you need to stay at a hotel, keep these tips in mind.
Save money by booking your flight and hotel at the same time. A lot of websites for travel will give you quite a bit of savings for you if you reserve a hotel and a rental car or flight together. You can make the most of this deal by comparing rates across several websites.
